"Backstage" at Domäne Wachau: Gemischter Satz from old vines

Time in a bottle. A field blend of a dozen different grape varieties root in an 80-year-old parcel. This is the source of our Gemischter Satz Smaragd Ried Vorderseiber 2016.

The Vorderseiber vineyard is not only an integral part of the Weissenkirchen landscape; a specific parcel offers insight to the history of grape varieties in the Wachau. Grüner Veltliner may dominate this special parcel of 80-year-old vines, but it shares the rocky gneiss soil with Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Müller Thurgau, Muscat, and some very old autochthon varieties like Brauner Veltliner, Heunisch, Roter Veltliner, Neuburger and others.

High elevation and cool air masses from the Waldviertel (Forest Quarter) influence the Vorderseiber significantly, but vines that have survived 80 years have certainly proved that they can withstand the wind and cold. They may bear low yields, but each vine has developed its own strong character over the years.

Deep minerality combines with a complex spectrum of aromas that is highlighted by vibrant acidity in this wine. The wine was fermented and matured in a used 500-litre wooden barrel.

In this new addition to the Domäne Wachau Backstagewine series, we revive an old tradition for Gemischter Satz. Historically, vineyards were often planted with several different grape varieties, one next to the other. Some varieties were quite rare; many were not even clearly identified, and some have since disappeared.